Russell George: I appreciate what you've said, and, of course, you are responsible for the economic action plan, SMEs and supply chains that benefit as well. The Welsh Goverment formed the NPS in 2013. When it did that, it was given a £5.9 million loan, and, five years later, the NPS has failed to pay that loan back. So, I would ask, Cabinet Secretary, when can the Welsh taxpayer expect that money to be...
Russell George: The National Procurement Service, I would suggest, is a failed policy. It's certainly an ongoing drain on the public purse. I am going to come to some areas that are certainly in your portfolio. Welsh SMEs and Welsh supply chains are not benefiting from the Welsh Government's procurement spending. In 2015-16, only 52 per cent of Welsh Government spending on goods and services went to...
Russell George: 6. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on ambulance response times in Powys? OAQ51885A
Russell George: Cabinet Secretary, can I thank you for your answer? I have to say, since November, I have received a significant increase in concerns reporting worrying delays in the time it takes for an ambulance to arrive following a 999 call. It seems, by the questions being put to you over the last couple of days, that that's increasing as well in terms of Members. Now, I have to say, there's one...
Russell George: I would like to take this opportunity to urge the whole of Wales to get behind Newtown to make it Britain's best walking neighbourhood. Newtown is the only Welsh town to have been shortlisted in the top 10 towns in the UK, and voting closes at 11.59 p.m. today. We need as many votes as possible to win the Ramblers Association award. Both Powys County Council and Newtown Town Council have a...
Russell George: Can I thank very much the Members that have brought forward this debate today? I certainly will be supporting the motion. The motion has my full support. Now, the Powys Association for Voluntary Organisations, or PAVO as they are known for short, have been raising concerns with me about the current threats that threaten the continuation of community transport in Powys. I thank them very much...
Russell George: What support does the Welsh Government provide to independent abattoirs in Wales?
Russell George: 2. What support does the Welsh Government provide to independent abattoirs in Wales? OAQ51983
Russell George: I thank you for your answer, First Minister. I hope we all want to see high standards of animal welfare in our slaughterhouses, and that, of course, goes for independent abattoirs as well. I know the one in my own constituency takes great pride in the respectful way in which they treat animals. I'm aware that the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs is still looking at CCTV in...
Russell George: Leader of the house, can I make two requests, if I can? The first is in relation to Natural Resources Wales's consultation on salmon and sea trout fishing controls. There have been a number of concerns raised with me, and I know with other Members as well, that NRW's proposals are neither fair nor proportionate, and that applying a blanket restriction could be unenforceable and also do...
Russell George: Leader of the house, there seems to be two aims of the Welsh Government's digital action plan—a more connected Wales and a more equal Wales. Now, you've published an update on your digital inclusion plan this morning, which I've had a read through, which cites good progress. But I have to say the reality is, of course, that thousands of my constituents, in Montgomeryshire, still suffer from...
Russell George: It does seem to me, I think, to be a fitting tribute to mark this important, special relationship that the Prince of Wales has with our nation by renaming the bridge on this occasion of his seventieth birthday, and to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Queen appointing him as the Prince of Wales. It is my view that this is something that the vast majority of the Welsh public welcome. Would...
Russell George: Will the Leader of the House make a statement on the mobile action plan?
Russell George: Will the Leader of the House provide an update on procurement for the successor scheme to Superfast Cymru?
Russell George: Has the Welsh Government conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the TrawsCymru service, and can I ask how do passenger numbers compare with other subsidised services? And can I ask what assessment you can make of the pilot on the free weekend bus travel on the TrawsCymru network?
Russell George: Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I say to Dai Lloyd that he won't be surprised that the Welsh Conservatives won't be supporting Plaid's motion today? I have to say it is curious for Plaid to call on the UK Government to hold a public consultation on an issue that has already been agreed and decided in consultation with the Welsh Government. What I can also say is that I find it strange...
Russell George: I will in a second—to the UK, a contribution that will be boosted to the tune of an estimated £100 million a year following the UK Government's decision to abolish the tolls on the Severn crossing.
Russell George: Well, the Prince of Wales was also consulted on the issue and was happy about the naming of the bridge in this regard. I will say—and I've got Oscar sat next to me here as well—when we think about the £100 million and the decision to abolish, of course, the tolls on the Severn bridge, Newport is now home to the UK's fastest moving property market, according to Rightmove, and I suggest...
Russell George: Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement this afternoon? Can I also thank and put on record my thanks to Huw Irranca-Davies and his predecessor Rebecca Evans for being very open to providing briefings for relevant Members and keeping us updated, following the inspection of Powys children's services? Also, I appreciate the Cabinet Secretary's...
Russell George: 4. Will the Cabinet Secretary outline the support available to businesses in mid Wales to expand their operations? OAQ52066
